CHAPTER VI--A MESSAGE OF INDIGNATION
"Thou art a traitor: False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father; Conspirant 'gainst this high illustrous prince; And from the extremest upward of thy head, To the descent and dust beneath thy feet, A most toad-spotted traitor."
--"King Lear," Shakespeare.
"Mother, did thee know about the celebration?" asked Peggy, as the twogirls entered the sitting-room where Mrs. Owen sat sewing.
"Yes. Friend Deering was here but now, and told me the cause of it. Apost-rider hath come from the South, Harriet; there is a letter."
"From Lieutenant Drayton?" cried Harriet, taking the missive eagerly."Oh, I wonder if he hath found Clifford?"
"That were best known by reading it," suggested Peggy, as her cousinstood holding the letter without breaking the seal. "Open it quickly,Harriet. I am beset with curiosity."
Without more ado Harriet tore open the epistle. As she did so a sealedenclosure fell to the floor, but she was too intent upon what Draytonhad written to notice it for the moment. The latter ran:
"Esteemed and Honored Madam: It is with great pleasure that I take up mypen to inform you that at length I have located your brother; and alively time it gave me, too. I left Philadelphia, as you doubtlessremember, on Friday, but it was not until Sunday night that I overtookthe party of American horse who had your brother in charge.
"I had inquired concerning them at every inn on the highway, but theyhad either passed without stopping or had just left; so that I almostdespaired of ever coming up with them. By great good fortune, however, Ifound them at The Head of the Elk[[3]] where I purposed to stay Sundaynight. Supper was over, and prisoners and captors sat about the fire inthe common room of The Three Lions Tavern when I entered. There werefive prisoners in all, and I looked at each one carefully, hoping torecognize your brother by your description of him.
"One, the youngest of the lot, had something strangely familiar abouthim, and all at once it came to me that he looked like Peggy."
"It could not have been Clifford, then," Harriet paused to remark,looking at her cousin wonderingly. "I see no resemblance to you, Peggy."
"But thee said that he looked like father," reminded Peggy. "I am likefather too, save my eyes and hair, which are dark, like mother's. If thybrother looks like father 'twould be natural that John should think himlike me. Read on, Harriet. Perchance 'twas not he, after all."
"I was sure then," continued Harriet, reading, "that this was yourbrother; so, after obtaining permission from the officer in charge, Iapproached him and said:
"'I cry you pardon, sir, but are you Clifford Owen, brother of MistressHarriet Owen?'
"He looked at me queerly, it seemed to me, before he replied:
"'I am not he; but if it were my name I see not what concern it is ofyours.'
"'I bear a message to one Clifford Owen,' I told him. 'If you are not heof course 'twould be of no moment to you.'
"'No,' he said, and seemed disinclined to talk. Seeing him so I left offfor a time, but after some chat with the others, I turned to him again.
"'If you are agreeable, sir, I would fain know your name?'
"'You are persistent,' he cried with some heat. 'I am not the man youseek; then why should you wish my name?'
"'And why should you not tell it?' I returned. 'Unless, perchance, thereare reasons for its suppression. We of these states ofttimes have to dowith persons who care not for us to know their names.'
"'It is Wilson Williams, sir,' he answered, springing to his feet. 'Nowwill you cease your questions? I know not why you should pester me withthem. Is't the fashion of Americans to annoy prisoners in such manner?'
"'Since you are not the man, I will trouble you no further, sir,' Ianswered with spirit. Turning my back upon him I began chatting with theothers, who seemed not averse to conversation.
"I had a shrewd suspicion that he was Clifford, passing for some reasonunder another name, so I led the talk to the war and its progress,gradually giving utterance to speeches that grew more and moreinflammatory, hoping to make him declare himself under the heat ofcontroversy. I saw that he writhed under the conversation, so at lengthI observed:
"'Even you British are coming to our way of thinking. The great Pitt,Charles Fox, and others among you know that 'tis the same spirit thatanimates us that stirred our common ancestors to resist the oppressionof Charles First. None of you can be among us long without acknowledgingthis. Why, in Philadelphia, there is at this moment an English maidenwho was bitter against us when she came among us, but who hath graduallybeen brought to our manner of belief. As a token of this she hathconferred upon me, an officer of the patriot army, a great mark for herfavor.' This I said, Mistress Harriet, to stir him. You must give meyour pardon in the matter, for I thought but to serve you. And when Ihad said this I went to my saddle-bags which had been placed in a cornerof the room, and drew forth the shirt that you had given me.
"'This hath she made for me,' I said holding it up to view. 'And this,'pointing to the inscription, Harriet Owen a loyal subject of the king,'hath caused us much amusement.' I could not but smile as I held it up,for it came to me that you had said that if it were seen by the Englishyou would know that I had turned my back to the foe. And here it wasback to the enemy even before seeing service. The words had no soonerleft my lips than here was my young man on his feet. Snatching thegarment from my hands he tore it into pieces before I could prevent.
"'There, sir!' he cried, tossing the shreds into the fire. 'No Yankeeshall wear a shirt of my sister's making. If you want satisfaction youshall have it.'
"He clapped his hand to his side for his rapier, but, being a prisoner,of course found it not. 'A sword!' he cried furiously. 'A sword! Asword!'
"'Sir,' I said, saluting him, 'I fight with no prisoner. And now thatyou have acknowledged that Mistress Harriet Owen is your sister,perchance you will permit me to give you her message. She wished you toinform her of your destination that she might exert herself to secureyour release. Write her at Philadelphia, in care of Madam David Owen,who is a cousin of yours, as, I dare say, you know. I make no doubt butthat your sister will be able to get you a parole.'
"'With your aid?' he fumed. 'I will rot in prison before I accept aidfrom a Yankee captain.'
"'A lieutenant, sir,' I corrected. 'By some oversight I have not yet thehonor to be a captain. Perchance the matter will be adjusted after ournext victory. I will bid you a very good-night, sir.'
"'Now by my life!' he cried, flinging himself upon me. 'You shall notleave this room until I have some satisfaction.' With that he beganbelaboring me with his fists. Of course 'twas not in human nature towithstand such an onslaught without a return in kind, so presently herewe were on the floor, rolling over and over, and pummeling each otherlike two schoolboys.
"At length the officer of the troopers and some of the others pulled meoff, for I was at the moment on top, having obtained the mastery.
"'Have done, lieutenant,' cried the officer. 'Do you want to kill him? Ican't have my prisoner beat up.'
"I got up, rather reluctantly, I must confess, for the young gentlemanhad been trying and had brought it upon himself, and turned to theothers to make excuses. But they all, even his fellow prisoners, werelaughing. They had perceived the trick I had used to make him declarehimself, and were well pleased with the bout, as no bones were broken,or blood shed. Have no fear either, mistress; save a few bruises andperchance a black eye your brother is no worse hurt than he should be.
"Your brother was sullen, and took the chaff with anything but a goodgrace; so, after a little, I bade them all good-night and went to myroom to write you a report of the matter, which I fear will not be atall to your liking. A little later I heard him calling for inkhorn andpowder,[[4]] so that if he writes in heat to you, this will inform youof the reason.
"Monday morning.--I did not finish the let
ter last night, but hasten todo so this morning before starting on my journey South. Early thecaptain of the dragoons came to me laughing:
"'Here's a kettle of fish, Drayton,' he said. 'The Englishman vows he'llhave your blood. Oh, he's in a pretty temper. He is pleading for asword, and hath promised us everything but his life for one. He hathwrit to his sister too, and I am to send it. How to do it I know not. Ifyou are in favor with her perchance you can attend to it.'
"'I can,' I replied. 'I have one of my own to send. I am leavingimmediately, captain, and after I am gone tell our friend that hissister hath no more liking for me than he seems to have, and but used mefor messenger, lacking a better.
"'I shall tell him naught, I dare not,' he said. 'Only go not near himbefore you leave, lieutenant. I know not what will happen if you do.'
"'And I know that whatever happens I must have a whole skin for thedelivery of my despatches,' I answered laughing.
"Enclosed please find the letter your brother hath writ, and permit meto thank you for the enjoyableness of this little frisk. If I havegained an enemy, you at least have found a brother; so honors are even.Whenever you have another service to perform you have only to call uponhim who subscribes himself
"Your humble and devoted servant, "John Drayton.
"_To Mistress Harriet Owen_,"_Philadelphia, Pa._"
"The wretch!" cried Harriet, throwing the letter to the floor in a pet."How dare he act so? Oh, I wish that Clifford had run him through.'Twere well for John Drayton that he had no sword. How dare he flout himin that manner?"
"Softly, softly, my child," spoke Mrs. Owen mildly, with difficultysuppressing her smiles, while Peggy laughed outright. "Methinks both thelads were at fault, but John wished only to satisfy himself of theother's identity. And he did serve thee in that, Harriet. But why shouldClifford wish to conceal it?"
"I know not," answered Harriet soberly. "I suppose 'twas because hefeared father would make him withdraw from the service should he findhim."
"Mayhap he explains the matter in his letter," suggested Peggy pickingup the neglected enclosure, and handing it to Harriet.
"Oh, yes; the letter," cried Harriet tearing it open eagerly. "Why!" sheexclaimed casting her eye quickly down the page. "He's angry! Justlisten.
"'And is it true,'" began the missive without heading or beginning ofany sort, "'that Harriet Owen, my sister Harriet, hath so far forgot herduty to her king as to labor in behalf of his rebellious subjects? Andsuch an one as you have chosen to favor, Harriet! Could not the daughterof Colonel William Owen, of the Welsh Fusiliers, find a better objectthan this whippersnapper of a Yankee captain?
"'Harriet! Harriet! And has it come to this? Are you a traitor to yourcountry and your king? To make a shirt for a rebel were infamy enough,but to embroider your name across its shoulders that all might see thatHarriet Owen, a loyal subject of the king, was so employed surpassesbelief.
"'Harriet, if this be true, if you have forgot what is due yourself,your brother, your father, your country and the most illustrious princethat ever sat upon the throne--if you have forgot your duty to all these,I say, then never more shall I call you sister. Never will I write thename of Clifford Owen again, but go down to my grave under the one Ihave chosen.
"'But, my sister, I cannot believe it of you. I cannot believe that soshort a time could change you so. Some one other than you must have madethat shirt, and this popinjay of a captain--or is it a lieutenant? nomatter!--hath stolen it to flaunt before me, and to stir me to anger.
"'Would that when I saw you in Philadelphia I had stopped, in spite ofmy captors. It was not permitted, and at the time, I was content that itshould be so, for I feared that father might be with you. I dread hisdispleasure when he meets me; for, as you know, he hath, in truth, greatcause to be offended with me. Should the matter have truth in it thatyou have become imbued with the virus of this rebellion, it may be thata short account of how I have been fighting for the glory of old Britainwill bring you back to a realizing sense of your duty.
"'Know then that when I left you home,--and why did you ever leave there?This country is no place for a girl bred as you have been.--After I hadleft there, I say, I obtained a commission by the help of Lord Rawdon. Ithink he knew who I was; we met him once, if you remember, but he saidnaught about the matter. He saw at once that I wished my identity keptsub rosa, and the army was greatly in need of men. Of course it cost apretty penny, and I expect a scene with father about it. Pray that I maydistinguish myself ere we meet.
"'I came with Lord Rawdon to the colonies, and have been with him eversince, mostly in the province of Georgia. We conquered that colony andgarrisoned Savannah, where you and father would, no doubt, have found mehad not that storm driven Sir Henry Clinton elsewhere to land. I wassent to Charlestown after you left for Camden and was stationed therefor some months. Then his lordship sent me to New York by sea withletters for General Clinton. I was tired of the Southern climate, andanother gladly exchanged with me, and went South while I remained in NewYork.
"'There was lately some information to be procured about the rebelforces, and volunteering for the service I was captured by some of theenemy's scouts. There were a number of British prisoners in the rebelcamp, and, as they seem not to be any too well supplied with rations, weprisoners are sent somewhere to the interior to be fed and kept out ofthe way of mischief. I think our destination is Charlottesville, wherethe Convention prisoners[[5]] are. 'Tis said that there is a regularcolony of them at that place, which is, I believe, in the province ofVirginia. There is to be a short stop at Fredericksburg before going onto the encampment of prisoners, for what reason I know not. If you willwrite immediately to that place I think I will receive it.
"'But, Harriet, dearly as I would love to hear from you, if you havegrown to sympathize with these revolted colonies in this broil againstthe king, if you are false to your country, as that fellow would have mebelieve, then write me not.
"'How can one sympathize with such obstinate people as these rebels are?When one is in their company they are barely civil, and that is, as JackFalstaff says, by compulsion. They seem to grow stronger by everydefeat. And why do they? They seem like Antaeus, of whom 'twas fabledthat being a son of the goddess Tellus, or the earth, every fall hereceived from Hercules gave him more strength so that the hero wasforced to strangle him in his arms at last. Would that our ministercould send us a Hercules to conquer these rebels.
"'If you can secure my release, Harriet, do so. I am quite sure that SirHenry Clinton, if the matter is brought to his attention, would exerthimself regarding an exchange. As you are doubtless aware, an affair ofthis kind must be kept prominently before the notice of the great ones,else it will be shelved for some other thing that is pressed with morepersistence. And yet, if nothing can be accomplished save by theconnivance of that captain, lieutenant, or whatever he may be, I wouldrather a thousand times stay as I am. Write me, if you are still myloyal sister.
"'Wilson Williams (Clifford Owen).'
"If ever," spoke Harriet with tears of vexation filling her lovely eyes,"if ever I see that John Drayton again I will give him occasion toremember it. Clifford never wrote such a dreadful letter to me before.Peggy Owen, 'tis no laughing matter."
"No," agreed Peggy merrily. "No, 'tis not, Harriet. And yet I cannothelp but laugh. I cry thy pardon, my cousin, but, but----" Unable tofinish she gave vent to another peal of laughter.
-----[3] Now Elkton, Maryland.
[4] Horn ink-bottle, and powder, or sand, to dry the written page.
[5] At Burgoyne's earnest solicitation General Gates consented that thesurrender at Saratoga should be styled a "convention." This was inimitation of the famous convention of Kloster-Seven, by which the Dukeof Cumberland, twenty years before, sought to save his feelings whilelosing his army, beleague
red by the French in Hanover. The soothingphrase has been well remembered by the British, who to this day speak ofthe surrender as the "Convention of Saratoga."